THIS LATEST SET OF PHOTO'S ABOVE SHOWS SOME MORE OF THE PROGRESS AS WE
GET CLOSER TO
COMPLETION OF THIS RESTORATION.

SOLD TO MISSOURI
RESIDENT A 4X
REPEAT CUSTOMER

~1963
CADILLAC SUPERIOR CROWN SOVEREIGN ROYALE COMBINATION~

Another great , Rare Funeral Coach
added to our Inventory. It isOne of only 582
Combination Hearses built in 1963 by Superior Motor Coach.
However, the 582 figure was diced up into 6 different versions;
'Royale', 'Crown Royale' (seen here), 'Crown Brougham', 'Sovereign Landaulet',
'Crown Sovereign Landaulet', & 'Sovereign Combination'(the Combination model comprised 50% of Superiors
entire production, clearly it's Most
Popular Model).We were told, it was originally delivered to a Funeral Home in
Joplin, Missouri where it spent nearly it's entire life. We brought the car back to FL. in
an enclosed transport and then
placed it in for restoration. Most folks would term this
car an "Survivor" as it has very strong 'bones' for 48+ years old,
as it was stored indoors almost it's entire life.
It is finished in it's original color of 'Sable 9248' Black / Blue
Leather Interior w/ White Piping and it carries the Embroidered "Crown"
Headliner and 2-Tone Interior Side Panels w/ Crown embellishments, only available on the
fanciest model. It will be
placed in a complete restoration for 'front line use' (not concours) so, the
buyer can choose how far the resto. goes depending on when he or she commits and
one's
budget. You can tell, by the photo's taken after Phase One of
our restoration (bottom of page) , it is poised to become a very good Coach.
This Model Design is quoted in all the Funeral Car books as being.."...perfectly
displaying the Regal Splendor and Elegance of the Funeral Industry".
It is
the very rare, seldom seen, still existing in this condition,
Combination Hearse/Ambulance
which, of course, allows
one to load / unload the casket from the rear and access
from the Suicide Doors on the sides. It was not uncommon,
prior to 1973,
to see a Funeral Home in the Emergency Transport (Ambulance) Business as the
local Funeral Home often served both functions. What we have witnessed is that, since
it was a Top Production Model, many Coachbuilders built an overflow of their
Most Popular 'Combination' Model so that the FD's could getimmediate delivery
.... even if they only intended to use it for Funeral Services.
Then again, there would be times when this model was left at the end of the calendar year
and the left-over Combination Coaches were sold
as
Funeral Coaches only (non-ambulance duty). This coach even came equipped with custom (screw-down)
factory built-in Funeral flag staffs for the front bumpers, obviously not needed for Ambulance
Duty. We have now installed a full set of Casket Rollers, Floor Deflector
Supports & Mohair Carpet, where
this Coach was orig. equipped from the factory with the flat floor entirely in Linoleum.
It is also equipped with
the following Optional Equipment by
Superior
:
SuperiorSuperior Option #116 Rear Grab Handle,
#25122 Front Tinted Windshield, #509 Outside Passenger Mirror, #85 Gas
Tank Door Chrome Bezel, #778 Deluxe Armrest, #124 Headliner in Silver, #145 Rear Cabin
Embellishments, #227 Air Conditioning; Front/Rear, #358 Cot Fastener (comes with car),
and #
Superior Motive Medallion Assy. both sides of Exterior.
As stated it is equipped with the seldom seen Factory Air
Conditioning, Full Leather Interior (we will refurbish/restore the original &
add new piping),
Commercial Glass, new Wide-White-Wall Radial
Tires, Leather Jump Seats (2 near new), Clock, Siren /Lights Control Module, as well as
a 'radio delete', plus all the usual Cadillac trappings like Power
Steering, Power Brakes, Automatic Transmission, Back-Up Lights, Windshield
Washers, Dual Speed Wipers, Oil Filter, Cornering Lights, Fender Top Signal Indicators, etc. This
Crown model featured the Chrome 'Crown' Band
surrounding the perimeter of the Casket Chamber on the exterior , as well as, much fancier Interior, extra
Superior Crown Badging on the Doors
and chrome embellishments. The original headliner is 'excellent' with
embroidered Gold Crown. It retains a mint Steering Wheel and Dashboard. All body
Stainless is in excellent condition or has been completely restored. Motor appears (tested)
and we were told it was professionally
rebuilt. The "Crown" versions are the hardest to access as they are, not only
the Most Expensive "Deluxe" Models but, are generally coveted
by the few owners that are lucky enough to still have them.This, and the Crown Sovereign Brougham, were Superior
Coach Companies Most Prestigious, Expensive and
Beautiful Model's of the Mid-Sixties.It carries
a
lot of extra Chrome Trim at the exterior of the hearse, as well as, the extra
wide Chrome Rocker Molding and fender Skirt Embellishments. It features the
popular 3 -piece rear window
that
was designed with the same basic body shell as the Coaches introduced in 1961,
except that it featured a new 3-piece rear bumper, gas door chrome surround and
re-styled rear door skin w/ simple Embellishments.
This was the first of the new Factory fiberglass fender inserts, Factory fitted on both sides of the
rear door which not only saved weight but, eliminated potential rust problems.

Prices for the Combination
Models started at $10,316, with this version costing
$11,169 (+ aforementioned options). The Inflation
Conversion 1963 to 2015 is $86,183.44 today! (using the 671.6%
posted rate). This coach has mileage
showing and
(averaging 1,135 miles per year). Born in Ohio but, having spent it's life
in Missouri, where it was garaged all it's life- it will now see a full
restoration & respray in Glasurit , Mechanical update, New
Carpets, A.C. System Refurbished ( not rebuilt), Replacement of 4 new Tires, Complete Refurbishment of Coffin Chamber
including new Drapery Rods ( Drapery Material w/ Coach), Replacement
of the Lenses in the L./R
Bumper Tail Light, Add a
Spare Tire Cover, some new Chrome and more.

A true classic and...... the Last
of the 63-64 Series "Finned" Hearses designed & built in the Sixties.F.D.'s from all over the Country are booking
"preemies" just from parking these Antique Coaches out front of their
Funeral Homes
and, then charging $300-1000 for the use of a Classic Coach in the Service.
We have been told by many of our Clients that customers have responded with
enthusiasm to the idea of "the last ride" in a
Classic Hearse.

SOLD
IMMEDIATELY This 'COMBINATION/ CROWN' may be one of our very Rarest
Coaches
when completed!

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS TAKEN
BEFORE
RESTORATION STARTED. RIGHT AFTER OUR FIRST DETAIL' TO DETERMINE COND. CAR HAD 'GREAT BONES'
. DRIVERS COCKPIT FLOORS IN METAL/REAR ALL LINOLEUM. SEE DENT R/R SIDE. PAINT
'DECENT' BUT, HARDLY SHOW READY. SPEAKERS AND FAN ON PARTITION. ALL INCORRECT
TIRES, GLASS CRACKED L/R SIDE